Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Performance and Improvement Team Leader, Regeneration and Economic Development.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Improvement Team Leader, Regeneration and Economic Development, Gemma Wilkinson who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter 1, 2015/16 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillors noted that the general direction of travel for the performance indicators was positive with some of the key achievements in Quarter 1: the number of empty properties being brought back into use exceeding target; the number of apprenticeship starts exceeding target; the occupancy of Business Durham properties had continued to rise, ahead of target; and the percentage of overall planning applications determined within deadline was now in line with target.   

The Performance and Improvement Team Leader explained that tracker indicators showed positive trends including: a continued reduction in the numbers claiming JobSeekers Allowance (JSA); a reduction in those claiming JSA for 12 months or more; there was an improvement in the number of net homes completed from the previous quarter, however, less than the same quarter the previous year; and a reduction in the number of homelessness presentations to the Housing Solutions Service, although the number of preventions fell.  It was added that due to changes in the definition regarding homelessness, performance cannot be compared with the same period last year.

Members noted that progress had been made with Council Plan and service plan actions, including: delivery of Auckland Castle Trust projects; physical regeneration projects at Seaham, Peterlee and Consett; highways works to construct a new roundabout at Sunderland Bridge; countywide roll out of the Private Landlord Accreditation Scheme; and further progress with the Digital Durham programme.

The Committee noted key performance issues included: only 164 jobs being created as a result of Business Durham activities, below a target of 600; and the number of private sector properties being brought back in use through Local Authority intervention was below target, however was higher than the same period last year.  It was added that tracker indicators had shown that the employment rate had fallen slightly, and was still lower than regional, national and statistical neighbour rates.  Members noted that other tracker indicators had shown that: the proportion of working age population currently not in work who wanted a job had risen from 12.4% to 13%; the number of people rehoused via Durham Key Options (DKO) had reduced from the previous quarter and was less than the corresponding period last year; and gross disposable income per head for the county was below both the North East and national rate.  

Members noted progress with Council Plan actions that had not achieved target, including: progress with the CDP, noting the update provided earlier; a revised date for the obtaining of planning permission for a Western Relief Road, linked to the CDP; traffic flow improvements in Durham City put back to September 2017 from October 2016 as a result of funding delays; issues with design and construction of electricity supply delaying the development of infrastructure at Merchant Park 2, Newton Aycliffe; and a slight delay in terms of the feasibility study in respect of Bishop Auckland Town Hall, now November 2015.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Improvement Team Leader and asked Members for their questions on the report.

Councillor M Davinson noted the underperforming figure of 18% in terms of the people commencing a first-time degree who were resident in County Durham when they started, and asked whether there was any additional information as regards retention of graduates in our area. 

The Performance and Improvement Team Leader explained she would liaise with colleague in the Children and Adults Services directorate as regards obtaining any information available in this respect. 

Councillor J Clare noted the roll out of Universal Credit and asked that, in the context of comments from the Office of National Statistics, were figures in relation to JSA worthless and whether there was a feeling of a petering out or general slowdown in terms of economic activity.  The Chairman added that a true picture was required in terms of those in receipt of benefits.  The Performance and Improvement Team Leader noted that Officers were looking at the issue of being able to report such figures in a meaningful way in future, in order for them to be comparable nationally and regionally.

Mr T Batson noted the performance as regards planning applications and added that his experience was that the Planning Section were very helpful and that the performance against timescales did not necessarily give an indicator of the quality of performance.  The Performance and Improvement Team Leader noted that the Planning Development Team were looking to refresh the satisfaction surveys that were used post-planning application.

Councillor H Nicholson noted that the report inferred that 54% of those starting apprenticeships did not continue past 15 months, and asked whether there was information on those people’s destinations upon leaving the apprenticeships.  Councillor H Nicholson also asked whether the level of uptake of the Private Landlord Accreditation Scheme could be considered poor and if there were any plans to reinvigorate and attract more landlords.  Councillor M Davinson noted that the scheme had originally piloted in the New Kyo area, then to be rolled out countywide this quarter and therefore the figures would likely be reflected within the next quarterly report.  The Vice-Chairman, Councillor A Batey added that the Accreditation Team was now visiting areas to help encourage landlords to join the scheme, again hopefully to be reflected in Quarter 2 figures.    

Resolved:

That the report be noted.